Improvement in steam-pumps for railroad-stations



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

W. H. BUTLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-PUMPS FOR RAILROAD-STATIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,269, dated March 20,1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W. H. BUTLER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRaising Water from Wells for Railroad-Locomotives; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part ofthis specication, in which- Figure l represents an external view, andFig. 2 avertical section, taken through an apparatus designed for thepurpose.

My invention consists in an apparatus connected with a well or reservoirof water at a low level, by which and through the steam connected withthe boiler of a locomotive the water therefrom may be raised to thetender or to a tank, from which the tender may be supplied with water.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe the saine with reference to the drawings.

A represents a tank or vessel of any suitable shape or capacity, whichis sunk in a well below the surface ofthe water therein and furnishedwith a valve, B, at its lower end, which opens inward to admit waterinto the tank or vessel when there is no pressure therein, and whichcloses whenever pressure is applied inside ofthe tank to elevate thewater contained in it.

From near the bottom of the tank or vessel a pipe, C, starts, whichrises upward and eX- tends to a point over which the tender of thelocomotive stands when at a station, said pipe having a turningjointinit, as at D, to adjust it to the delivery-point or a hose may beconnected to the pipe, so as to carry the water to the tender or to astationary tank or reservoir, whence it may be taken to the tender.

A flexible pipe or hose, E, is connected to the tank or vessel A at itstop, which pipe or hose is to be connected with the boiler orsteamchamber of the boiler of a locomotive as it stands upon the trackto admit steam into the top of said tank, and within the tank or vesselthere is a ioat, F, againstwhich the steam acts to drive or force saidpiston-head against the column of water in the tank, and thus drive orforce it out through the pipe C to the tender or tank where it isrequired.

The advantage ofthe oat F is that it causes a uniform pressure upon thecolumn of water, and also prevents sudden condensation of the steamvhichwould take place if the steam were brought in immediate contact with thewater; and to prevent condensation from the natural temperature of thewater surrounding the tank it may be covered both inside and outsidewith some non-conducting material, as asphaltum, rubber, prepared paper,or felt that may be water-proof.

When the water has been driven out ot' the tank and the floatingpiston-head F is down near the bottom and the pipe E disconnected fromthe boiler, so as to remove the pressure of the steam within thetank,the valve B opens by theexternal pressure ofthe water, and the tankimmediately fills, the piston-head rising upon top of the inilowingwater, and the apparatus is ready for another similar operation. Thusthe Water necessary for supplying the tenders of the locomotives mayberaised up and furnished by the steam from the locomotive-boiler whilethe locomotive is standing at the station, and with but triilingexpense, as the excess of steam is or may be only used in the operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

'lhe arrangement of the tloating follower F with the tank A and withreference to the inletpipe E, exit-pipe C, and valve B, whereby tosupply locomotive-tenders with water at railroad-stations, as herein setforth.

W. H. BUTLER.

Witnesses:

H. E. Sco'rcHMEE, J. B. SEcoR.

